How much unemployment will I get if I make $900 a week in Washington - ESD benefit calculation help

Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from your base period to calculate benefits. For someone making $900/week, you'd likely qualify for around $790 per week, which is pretty close to the maximum. The formula is basically 3.85% of your total base period wages, but there's a weekly cap.

wait i thought the max was like $500? when did it go up so much

I had similar earnings when I filed last year and got $743/week. The exact amount depends on all four quarters in your base period, not just the highest one. You can actually get a benefit estimate on the Washington ESD website before you file your claim.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about benefit calculations, I used claimyr.com recently and it was super helpful. They have this system that calls for you and connects you directly to an ESD agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours!

Just remember you have to be ACTUALLY unemployed to collect. If you're still working even part time you might not be eligible for the full amount. Also make sure you understand the job search requirements - Washington ESD requires 3 job contacts per week.

The whole system is such a mess. I made decent money too and when I finally got approved after months of adjudication hell, they said I had an overpayment from YEARS ago that I didn't even know about. Now they're garnishing my benefits!

Pro tip: apply online immediately after your last day of work. Don't wait! There's a waiting week but your claim date matters for backpay purposes. And make sure you have all your employer info handy - dates, addresses, reason for separation.

I make about the same as you and got $812/week when I was on unemployment last summer. The calculation seemed pretty straightforward once I understood it. Just make sure you report any severance pay correctly - that can delay your benefits.

whatever you do dont trust the online benefit calculator its always wrong. i calculated like $600 and ended up getting $312 because of some obscure rule about part time work in my base period

Based on your income you should qualify for close to maximum benefits. Washington's formula is pretty generous compared to other states. Just be prepared for potential delays if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason.

I used Claimyr twice last year when I couldn't reach ESD - once for benefit calculation questions and once when my payments stopped randomly. Both times got connected to agents who actually knew what they were talking about. Worth every penny when you're dealing with benefit issues.

Don't forget about the job search requirements starting immediately when you file. Three job contacts per week minimum and they need to be documented in WorkSourceWA. I got temporarily disqualified for not meeting this requirement properly.

At $900/week you're in good shape for benefits. I was making similar and got about $780/week. The key is making sure your employer reports your wages correctly to ESD. I had to appeal initially because they had wrong wage information.

honestly the whole unemployment system is broken. i made good money and still barely got anything because of some technicality about when i worked. then they wanted me to pay back money i never should have gotten in the first place

Quick question - are you planning to file immediately or wait until you actually get laid off? I made the mistake of waiting and lost out on potential backpay because I didn't understand the timing rules.

With your income level you'll probably get around $790-800 per week. That's based on the 3.85% of total base period wages formula. Just make sure you understand what your base period is - it's not the most recent quarters like you might think.

Just went through this process myself. Had the same weekly earnings and got $798/week. The online application was straightforward but I did have to call ESD to clarify some wage information. Used claimyr.com to actually get through to someone - saved me hours of trying to call directly.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you get any union benefits or severance that might affect your unemployment timing. Also Washington has some specific rules about vacation pay that can delay benefits. Just something to keep in mind.

Bottom line - with $900/week earnings you should get close to maximum benefits. File immediately after your last day, keep detailed job search records, and don't stress too much about the process. Washington's system works pretty well once you understand it.

I went through something similar last year when my company downsized. With your $900/week income, you should definitely qualify for close to the maximum weekly benefit. One tip that really helped me - start gathering all your employment documentation now (pay stubs, tax forms, employer contact info) so you're ready to file immediately if the layoff happens. Also, I'd recommend checking your wage history on the ESD website periodically to make sure everything looks accurate. The whole process was less stressful than I expected once I had all my paperwork organized. Hope it works out and you don't actually need to file, but at least you'll be prepared!